The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter remains in unwavering solidarity with protestors across Texas who are rising up this weekend against authoritarianism and the unjust targeting of immigrant communities by ICE. We honor and support the communities most impacted by these systems of oppression, and we firmly reject the use of force or fear to silence their voices.
We condemn Governor Abbott’s deployment of the National Guard against Texans.. This decision is not about public safety - it’s political theater. An old and dangerous play: provoke violence, spread fear, and distract from deep, systemic failures. Texas has a long history of state-sanctioned violence - from the Texas Rangers’ 19th-century massacres of Indigenous peoples, to the modern-day expansion of the Department of Public Safety and the ongoing police violence inflicted on Black and Latinx Texans. The Governor’s actions follow this legacy, not of law and order, but of repression and control.
Governor Abbott’s actions are not just about protest. They’re about power. Everything he does is to please billionaires and secure his spot as Donald Trump's favorite lackey. His so-called “border security” measures have militarized sacred lands like the Rio Grande River and Big Bend National Park. When the grid failed in the winter of 2021, Abbott, much like Trump, blamed everyone but himself.
Let’s be clear: Greg Abbott is not leading. He’s posturing. And, once again, he has chosen the side of the oppressor. But the people of Texas have always been bigger than any one politician. Bigger in heart, bigger in grit, and bigger in our collective spirit. No intimidation campaign will ever stop Texans from fighting for a better future.
We believe in the power and necessity of protest. We believe in organizing. And we believe that when Texans come together to demand justice, they are not a threat - they are the heartbeat of democracy.
We are with you - this day, and every day.